Sled propeller



Dec. 22, 1936. s K o 2,065,375 SLED PROFELLER 5 Filed Feb. '7, 1935 i I 2 Sheets-Sheet l I Jle kezz 125220 Dec. 22, 1936. s. KELTONIK SLED PROPELLER Filed Feb. 7, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,JZepkera ZZZamz'ia BMW 16 Patented Dec. 22, 1936 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SLED PROPELLER 1 Stephen Keltonik, Conemaugh, Pa. Application February 7, 1935, Serial No. 5,467 Claims. (01. 208-157) V l .This invention. relates to propelling mechanism for use in connection with sleds, one of the objects being to provide means whereby oscillating.

motion produced by the occupant of the sled can 5 be converted into reciprocating motion which is imparted to thrust elements carried by the sled and. designed to engage the surface of the iceor snow so as to propel the sled, thereby providing healthful exercise for the user and also causing the sled to moveforwardly. i

A further object is to provide mechanism which can be operated readily and acts to impart intermittent thrust to the sled in rapid succession so that the sled will advance quickly and smoothly. Another object is to provide mechanism most of which is located beneaththe top of the sled and between the runners where it is out of the way and will not interfere with the occupant or occupants. 2 I With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims,

it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

f 'In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said'drawings Figure 1 is a central vertical longitudinal section through a sled equipped with the present improvements.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view thereof.

Figure3 is a section on line 33 Figure 1. Figure 4 is a section on line 44 Figure 1.

The sled with which the present improvements are tobe used can be of any construction desired and the structure illustrated is merely one of the many types which can be employed. It includes a top I suitably supported by runners 2.

Mounted within the top I near the front thereof is a bearing sleeve 3 in which a driving post 45, 4 is mounted for rotation. Collars 5 and 6 are adjustably fastened to this driving post by set screws 1 or the like and are adapted to bear against the respective ends of the sleeve so as thusto hold the driving post against'up and down movement without, howeveninterfermg with its free rotation. By loosening the screws I the driving post canbe adjusted upwardly or downwardlywithin the sleeve, as will be obvious.

Mounted. on the upper portion of the driving 5' postis a sleeve 18 carrying .a handle bar ,9 ,or the like, and this sleeve is adapted to be held by a set screw II] in any position to which the sleeve might be adjusted upon the driving post.

The driving post 4 is provided with an angular portion II beneath the top I and from this angle portion extends a stem I2 which is screw threaded for engagement by a nut I3.

A lever I4 is mounted at its center on the angular portion I I so as to rotate with the driving post and its ends are extended normally toward the runners Z. A coiled spring I5 is interposed between the lever and collar 6 and another coiled spring I6, preferably stronger, is interposed between the lever and nut I3.

Extending transversely of the sled with its ends fastened thereto, is a bearing rod I1. Levers I8 are mounted at their centers on this rod so as to swing freely thereon and sufficient clearance is provided above and below the rod to allow the levers to move without interference. One lever is located adjacent to each runner and to the lower arm of each lever a long thrust bar I9 is connected as by means of a pivot 20. This thrust bar is preferably formed of a length of light but strong channeled metal and from the forward end of each thrust bar is extended a forked tongue 2| pivotally connected to one'end of lever I4. Both thrust bars are of the same length so that whenthe lever I4 is in its intermediate or trans verse position, as shown in the drawings, the rear. ends of the bars I9 will be equally distant from the back end of the sled and levers I8 will be in upstanding positions.

Pivotally connected, as at 22, to the upper end of each lever I8 is a short thrust bar 23 likewisepreferably channeled and formed of a light but strong material. The two short thrust bars are of the same length and are normally thrust downwardly by springs secured at their upper ends to the top .I and resting at their lower ends in the channels in the bars.

The thrust bars I9 are preferably extended between the runners 2 and the adjacent levers I8 while the bars 23 are connected to the opposite sides of the levers. Thus it is possible for the lower ends of the thrust bars I9 and 23 to workpast each other without interference.

The lower or rear ends of the thrust bars I9 and 23 can be suitably shaped so as to bite into the surface of the ice or snow thereunder when backward pressure .is exerted through the bars. It is preferred, however, to secure sharp shoes or bits 25 to these ends of the bars. Thus the surface engaging portionscan be made of harder and more durable material than the bars and can be renewed when necessary.

Stop pins 26 or the like are extended into the paths of the levers l8 for the purpose of limiting their swinging movement.

Openings 2! are provided in the top and are of sufi'icient size to receive pedals 28 which are connected at their front ends to the top by hinges 29 and are normally supported yieldingly within the openings 21 by springs 30. To the back portions of these pedals are hingedly connected thrust bars 3| adapted to swing forwardly and rearwardly about the hinges 32. Each of these thrust bars is supported at an angle by an anti-friction roller 33 mounted on a cross rod 34. The upper portion of each thrust bar, is formed with a cam face 35 which normally overlies the roller 33. A spring 36 carried by each pedal serves to press the thrust bar 3| forwardlyagainst its roller 33, and at the same time forcing it rearwardly. I

The lower end of each thrust bar has a shoe or bit 31 corresponding with the parts 25 and adapted normally to rest against the supporting surface of ice or snow.

In practice the user stands on the body or else places one foot on each of the pedals 28 so that the pedals are thus lowered against the springs 3|) and rest upon the upper portions of bars 3| which are swung upwardly and rearwardly by pressure against rollers 33 and against the action of springs 36. By swinging the handle bar 9 back and forth a corresponding movement is imparted to lever M and when one end of the lever is thrust forwardly it pulls upon the bar i9 at that end and thrust through the bar l9 at the other end. The rearwardly moving bar l9 swings its lever |8 so as to cause its short bar 23 to move forwardly. At the same time the forwardly moving bar |9 actuates its lever l8 to move its bar 23 rearwardly. Thus while one bar is is thrusting against the engaged ice or snow surface, the short bar 23 at the other side of the sled is likewise exerting a thrust. Consequently the sled will be pushed forwardly for a distance equal to the length of the thrust and any further distance which might be covered as a result of the momentum imparted. Simultaneously the other two thrust bars are moved forwardly into set positions so that when handle bar 9 is swung in the opposite direction the parts will be actuated to impart a double thrust.

During the action above described the short arms 23 will be pressed upon the surface thereunder by springs 24 and the forward movement of each lever |8 at its upper end will be limited by stop 26.

As a means for supplementing the propelling action heretofore described, the user of the sled can push pedals 28 downwardly successively, allowing one pedal to rise while the other is being pushed down. As each pedal is lowered the push bar 3| connected thereto will bite into the supporting surface thereunder and then, through contact during its descent with its roller 33, will be abruptly swung or flipped rearwardly at its lower end so as to exert a forward impulse to the sled; This flipping action will be accelerated through contact of cam 35 with the roller.

Obviously by actuating pedals 28 and at the same time oscillating the handle bar 9, considerable power can be applied to the thrusting element and the sled can be caused to move forwardly smoothly and at a'good speed while, at

the same time, healthful exercise will be furnished to the user.

It is to be understood that any suitable means can be employed for steering the sled, said means being independent of the thrusting mechanism which has been described. Obviously, however, the sled can be steered by actuating only one of the thrust bars 3| or by transmitting thrust only through the bars at one side of the sled.

The springs l5 and I5 constitute cushions for relieving the long bars l9 from excessive. strains while exerting thrust and by means of nut l3 the lever M can be adjusted upwardly or downwardly to change the angle of these bars and increase orreduce their bite into the ice or snow.

, What is ,claimed is:

1. The combination with a sled, of a driving post extending therefrom and mounted for back and forth rotation about its axis, a lever movable with the post and having oppositely extending arms, downwardly and rearwardly extended thrust bars movably connected to the respective arms, upwardly extending levers fulcrumed between their ends adjacent to the sides of the sled and pivotally joined at their lower end to the thrust bars for actuation thereby, and short thrust bars pivotally connected to the'upper ends of said levers and extending downwardly and rearwardly therefrom, the lower ends of all of the bars being positioned for reciprocation in different paths respectively.

2. The combination with a sled, of a driving post extending therefrom and mounted for back and forth rotation aboutits axis, a lever movable with the post and having oppositely extending arms, downwardly and rearwardly extended long thrust bars movably connected to the respective arms, upwardly extending levers fulcrumed between their ends adjacent to the sides of the sled and pivotally connected to the long thrust bars,

short thrust bars pivotally connected to the upperv ends of said levers and extending downwardly and rearwardly therefrom, adjustable yielding means for exerting a downward thrust upon the.

rear ends of the first named bars, and yielding means for thrusting downwardly upon the short bars.

3. The combination with a sled, of a driving post extending therefrom and mounted for back and forth rotation about its axis, a lever movable with the post and having oppositely extending arms, downwardly and rearwardly extended long thrust bars movably connected to the respective arms, upwardly extending leversfulcrumed between their ends adjacent to. the sides of the sled and pivotally connectedto the long thrust bars, short thrust bars pivotally connected to the upper ends of said levers and extending downwardly and rearwardly therefrom, opposed cushioning means for the first named bars, and means for adjusting the angles of said bars to the top of the sled.

4. The combination with a sled, of a driving post extending therefrom, a handle bar adjustably mounted on the post, a lever adjustably mounted on the post and adapted to be oscillated therewith, said lever having oppositely extending arms, thrust bars connected to the respective arms and extending downwardly and rearwardly therefrom, levers pivotally connected to and extending upwardly from said thrust bar, short thrust bars pivotally connected to the upper ends of said levers and extending downwardly and rearwardly therefrom, and separate yielding 7 means for holding the last named bars pressed downwardly at their rear ends.

5. The combination with a sled and an oscillating operating means carried thereby, of a thrust bar hingedly connected to said means and extending downwardly and. rearwardly therefrom, and cooperating means on the bar and sled for imparting an abrupt backward swinging movement to the bar when thrust downwardly, said means including a cam on the thrust bar and stationary deflecting means in the path of the cam.

STEPHEN KELTONIK. 

